💡 The Importance of Choosing the Right Words When Seeking a Home Exchange

English Forum Community 🤔 Q&As: Ask the community
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If you’re new to the (wonderful) world of home exchange, this might interest you. Indeed, when you’ve never done a home exchange before and are more used to rentals or hotel rooms, it can take a little time to understand the etiquette of a community like HomeExchange. So we’re here to help you save some time :blush:

Choosing the Right Words

When you send a home exchange proposal to a member, or when you’re communicating on the platform, some words should be avoided. The way you express yourself in your messages gives your potential exchange partner insight into who you are and how you approach the concept of home exchanging. And that’s perfectly natural, since this plays a part in their decision whether or not to lend you their home.

Here are a few examples:

Don’t say…

  • Don’t say “I’d like to rent your home for the holidays”

Instead, say: “I’d love to stay at your place.”

At HomeExchange, we don’t rent homes — we lend or exchange them. That distinction is important.

  • Don’t say “Hi, is it available?”

Instead, say: “Hello, would you be willing to host us on these dates?”

Again, the nuance matters: remember, the home you’re interested in is lived in, by a person or a family. It’s not just about “availability,” but about someone’s willingness to host you (even if their calendar is open, members always have the final say on whether or not they accept an exchange — see ✅ Did you know? A green calendar doesn't mean an automatic yes!).

  • Don’t say “I’ve booked a home”

Instead, say: “I’ve arranged or finalised an exchange”

Remember: there’s no exchange of money in a home exchange, and your host is not providing a service — they are simply lending you their home — in exchange for yours or for GuestPoints.

  • Don’t say “I can pay you in GuestPoints”

Instead, say: “I can offer you GuestPoints in exchange”

GuestPoints aren’t a currency. Their only purpose is to enable you to stay for free in other members’ homes.

In Conclusion

I hope these examples help you better understand the codes and culture of HomeExchangers. When you send an exchange proposal to another member, keep this in mind: you’re writing to someone who knows nothing about you yet — and you’re asking them to lend you their home — in exchange for yours or for GuestPoints. Nothing obliges them to say yes. So it’s up to you to show — especially through the words you choose in your first message — that you understand and respect the values of HomeExchange.

Now it’s your turn. Wishing you many wonderful exchanges!

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I often add ’ I’d be happy to exchange the points that I received from hosting other guests in my home with you so you can use them for your chosen destination too '.

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@SusanJbrn Smart reply – I’m borrowing that one for sure! :wink:

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